Healthcare and Medical News for Atlanta Physicians

Motivational Interviewing: Addressing Patient Ambivalence to Facilitate Change

By Amanda Perkins, PhD, ABPP

Three health behaviors (poor diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use) contribute to the four major chronic conditions (type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease and cancer) that account for 50% of all deaths worldwide (James et al., 2018). When these chronic conditions are present and an individual is consuming harmful levels of alcohol, the risk of ... Continue Reading

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

By John Tumeh, MD

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are highly prevalent and debilitating conditions. Despite the widespread use of medication and psychotherapy, a significant portion of patients experience inadequate responses.  Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a non-invasive, safe and effective approach for these treatment-resistant cases. ... Continue Reading

Treating Anxiety and Addressing the Benzodiazepine Crisis

By Michelle T. Jesse, PhD, and Olusola Justin Ayankola, MD

Current estimates suggest the lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders in the U.S. ranges from 16% to 34%, with evidence to suggest these numbers may be worse post-COVID-19.1 When a patient presents in obvious distress or is reporting significant anxiety, it is clinically and ethically appropriate to address the patient’s discomfort.  However, in the case of benzodiazepines, ... Continue Reading

Psychiatric Presentations in Primary Care

By Michael Park, DO

In the primary care setting, mental health has become a prominent and emerging concern. At times, depression has often been overlooked and not been a focus of the office visit, especially when patients come in with other organic medical complaints.   Multiple studies have shown that more than 50% of depression cases have been overlooked or missed in the primary care ... Continue Reading

Treatment-Resistant Depression in Outpatient Setting

By John Tumeh, MD and Hatcher, PA-S and Stephen Davis, LMHC

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide.[1] According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 7.8% of all U.S. adults above age 18 have experienced at least one major depressive episode.[2] The prevalence of major depressive episodes was higher among adult females (9.6%) compared to males (6.0%), and the prevalence of ... Continue Reading

Functional Neuro-Psychiatric Disorders in General Medicine

By Jorge L. Juncos, MD and Jennifer J. Hawkins, APC, NCC, CCTP

Functional disorders were previously known as psychogenic and conversion disorders.1 These entities consist of a series of neuropsychiatric and medical conditions in which individuals present with sensorimotor or somatic symptoms not explained by current or other know conditions. The change to the phrase functional and somatoform disorders was based on a new and more robust ... Continue Reading

Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19

By Helen K. Kelley

With the advent of COVID-19 and the need for social distancing, constant sanitizing and mask-wearing, many Americans have experienced increased feelings of isolation, anxiety and depression. We spoke to two Atlanta practitioners who shared their insights about treating mental health issues that have been brought on or exacerbated during the pandemic. The Shared Trauma of the ... Continue Reading

Depression and Anxiety in Teens

By Helen K. Kelley

Clinical depression and anxiety are on the rise among adolescents ages 12-17, as well as instances of self-harm. Here, we offer some insight into the importance of recognizing the signs of depression and anxiety in teens, which are often different from those of adults, as well as some of the differences in diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosing Anxiety and Depression in ... Continue Reading

Psychiatry Spotlight

By Helen K. Kelley Georgia physicians are at the forefront of developing innovative programs and research in the field of psychiatry. Here, we explore how they are increasing the knowledge and skills of new doctors, improving the lives of an underserved population with mental illness and more. Peer Specialist Has Important Role in Training Medical Students and Junior ... Continue Reading

Ketamine Infusion Therapy

By Kenneth H. Joel M.D. Ketamine is a medication that was patented in 1969 and put to medical use in humans in the 1970s. It has had many roles over the years, including as a general anesthetic in adults and children for surgery, a drug used in veterinary medicine for pain and anesthesia, as well as alternative roles abroad as a drug used in regression therapy and ... Continue Reading

William Jacobs, MD Provides Overview of Addiction Symposium

Reported by Dr. William S. Jacobs          I recently was invited to attend a symposium hosted by Michael Botticelli, director of the Obama Administration’s National Drug Policy. I was pleased to join representatives from the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, National Institute on Drug Abuse, the American Board of Medical Specialties and other medical and ... Continue Reading

New Hope for People With Difficult-to-Treat Depression

Researchers at Emory University have found that a medication that inhibits inflammation may offer new hope for people with difficult-to-treat depression. The study was recently published  in Online First Archives of General Psychiatry. "Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection or wounding, says Andrew H. Miller, senior author for the study and professor of ... Continue Reading

Targeting Inflammation to Treat Depression

Researchers at Emory University have found that a medication that inhibits inflammation may offer new hope for people with difficult-to-treat depression. The study was published Sept. 3 in Online First Archives of General Psychiatry. "Inflammation is the body's natural response to infection or wounding, says Andrew H. Miller, senior author for the study and professor of ... Continue Reading

Emory Study Shows Benefits of Therapeutic Intervention for Adolescents

A new study shows that a therapeutic intervention called Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) appears to improve the mental and physical health of adolescents in foster care. CBCT is a tool that provides strategies for people to develop more compassionate attitudes toward themselves and others. It is well documented that children in foster care have a high prevalence ... Continue Reading

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